How to Enable Windows Defender When Turned Off by Group Policy

Window Defender is a great built-in app in Windows to protect your computer against Malwares, Virus, Spyware, and other third-party software that can infect your computer. Malwares can be installed automatically without your permission and infect your computer. It can be installed through internet, USB drive, DVD, CD or any other removable Media.

If Windows Defender is enabled and working properly then this will protects you against harmful things in two different ways

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Real Time Protection: Defender will notifies you when any unwanted software or malware tries to install on your computer and also notifies you when any software try to change any kind of important settings.

Any time scanning: Defender automatically scans your computer regularly and also gives you options to scan as you set schedule.

How Does Windows Defender Get Disabled

When you computer infected by any malware or virus then this may disable every app or functionality (like Windows Defender, Task Manager, Windows Registry, Group Policy Editor, etc) on your computer that you can use to remove harmful stuff. When you try to open Windows Defender from control panel or directly from Run command it gives you an error “This app is turned off by group policy”.

In that case you have to make some changes in your computer using gpedit (Group Policy Editor). Follow the instruction below to enable Windows Defender.

Enable Windows Defender from Group Policy

First logged in as an administrator. Press Windows+R keys from keyboard, type gpedit.msc in Run Window and hit Enter.

When you click on Windows Defender in left-panel , now find out Turn off Windows Defender setting in right-panel.

Double click on it to open, a new window will show Windows Defender settings, here select Disable and hit OK button to save the settings. This will disable the Turn off Windows Defender option means Defender is enabled and your can run it.

Now, try to open Windows Defender and you should no longer get This app turned off… message. From Group Policy Editor you can enable or disable different Windows operating system options easily, options like Disable Windows 10 Updates, Enable Task Manager and lot more.